View full sizeActor and East Lansing High School 1982 graduate Mark Cade rehearses with current ELHS students before the East Lansing Educational Foundation’s Night Among the Stars Gala of Gratitude event.Courtesy photo

EAST LANSING, MI -- An East Lansing schools booster group has taken another step toward its $1.3 million endowment goal.

In a surprise announcement, the. R.E. Olds Foundation donated $50,000 to the East Lansing Educational Foundation on Saturday. The announcement, made by R.E. Olds' great-granddaughter, Diana Tarpoff, brings the East Lansing schools group's endowment total to $825,000.

Tarpoff, who directs the organization named after the progenitor of the Oldsmobile, said she hoped her organization's donation would inspire others to help the East Lansing Educational Foundation reach its goal.

“We are proud to make this donation, really an investment, because it will support East Lansing students, forever,” she said. “The Olds family has been part of many moments in East Lansing and are excited to be stepping forward at this critical stage for public education.

“We hope many other families will join us so we reach that million-dollar goal.”

The announcement came after an alumni performance of “And the World Goes Round” on East Lansing Educational Foundation’s Night Among the Stars Gala of Gratitude event.

Once the foundation reaches its $1.3 million endowment goal, the interest from the funds will yield $65,000 per year.

The goal of the East Lansing Educational Foundation is “to enhance excellence in public education by raising and distributing private resources for the benefit and enrichment of all students," according to the organization's website.

Established in 1984, the community-based, non-profit organization has granted more than $325,000 to East Lansing’s classrooms.

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